StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Rhetorical Appeals - Case Study Example

Cite this document
Summary
The art of rhetoric / persuasive writing entails a careful use and arrangement of words, which results in persuading the readers in accepting and endorsing the ideas put forward by the writer. The process of such effective communication was introduced and explained by the Greek…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER94.6% of users find it useful
Rhetorical Appeals
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Rhetorical Appeals"

Rhetorical Appeals Introduction The art of rhetoric persuasive writing entails a careful use and arrangement of words, which results in persuading the readers in accepting and endorsing the ideas put forward by the writer. The process of such effective communication was introduced and explained by the Greek philosopher - Aristotle, who suggested that a reader can be persuaded by inclusion of three key elements i.e., ethos, pathos and logos. Ethos refers to use of ethics and ethical reasoning used to convince the readers; pathos refers to use of emotional appeals and examples; and logos refers to the use of logic to support the arguments made (Garver, 1994; Enos & Agnew, 1998; Kaufer & Butler, 1996).

The letter written by Martin Luther King, from a Birmingham Jail, uses all these types of appeals, listed above, in order to convince the reader regarding the validity and credibility of his ideas and actions. The same are discussed and highlighted below:Ethos: Ethos is primarily used to indicate and highlight the good character and credibility of the writer. In this letter, Martin Luther King, has very aptly and effectively highlighted his body of work, thus indicating his authority on the subject and successfully justifying his stance on the issue on hand.

Example:"I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every southern state, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. We have some eighty five affiliated organizations across the South, and one of them is the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. Frequently we share staff, educational and financial resources with our affiliates"The statement mentioned above indicates the use of ethos, by the writer. Pathos: This form of speech is used as an artistic proof of the facts mentioned by the writer, and banks on the readers’ emotions and feelings as a method of persuasion.

The following is the example of pathos, as applied by Martin Luther King in his letter:“Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their "thus saith the Lord" far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town. Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid.

”“We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God given rights”Logos: This refers to the use of logical reasoning in support of the arguments made by the writer. The following is an example of the same:“".even though Negroes constitute a majority of the population, not a single Negro is registered. Can any law enacted under such circumstances be considered democratically structured?”“We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was "legal" and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was "illegal”ConclusionThe skillful use of the three key elements, viz-a-viz, ethos, pathos and logos, by the writer, helped in highlighting the ideas and offer valid justification for the course of action chosen, and influence the readers to arrive at a common consensus.

The use of such elements paves way for establishing clear and effective communication with the readers and enhances the credibility and validity of the arguments and ideas put forth, by the writer. Martin Luther King’s letter is a clear case in point. References:Enos, R. L., Agnew, L. P., (1998). Landmark essays on Aristotelian rhetoric, Routledge Publication, Pp. 66-72Garver, E., (1994). Aristotles rhetoric: an art of character, University of Chicago Press, Pp. 100-111Kaufer, D. S., Butler, B. S., (1996).

Rhetoric and the arts of design, Routledge Publication, Pp. 78-82

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Rhetorical Appeals Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words”, n.d.)
Rhetorical Appeals Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/english/1590493-rhetorical-appeals
(Rhetorical Appeals Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words)
Rhetorical Appeals Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words. https://studentshare.org/english/1590493-rhetorical-appeals.
“Rhetorical Appeals Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/english/1590493-rhetorical-appeals.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Rhetorical Appeals

An Analysis of Mrs. Sirleaf's Speech

This is achieved through Rhetorical Appeals that include ethos, pathos, and logos.... The well use of the three Rhetorical Appeals describes the effectiveness of a speaker or an author.... Name Institution Course Instructor Date An Analysis of Mrs.... irleaf's Speech The purpose of any writing, speech, or a conversation is to convince the audience that the message that one puts across is true and valid....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

The summary of the novel Saints at the River

The author is successful in conveying his environmental ideas through the Rhetorical Appeals of ethos, pathos, and logos which can be identified in the character of Luke.... One of the influential writers of the time, Ron Rash, who through his novels deals with the multipart situations that follow death, and dramatic water, makes use the rhetorical triangle of persuasive appeals, i....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Englsih - Rhetorical Appeals analysis (logos, ethos, pathos)

The commercial appeals to viewers by implying that when we drive, we are responsible not only for our lives but the lives of others as well.... It is a commercial that campaigns against driving fast.... The commercial is an anecdote of a sweet couple who were pinned against the wall by car that was hit by a speeding silver car....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Broad rhetorical analysis of Charles Murrays on Liberal Education as suggested by President Obama

ertainly, the author used some Rhetorical Appeals to pass his message across.... Broad rhetorical analysis of Charles Murray's Essay on Liberal Education as suggested by President ObamaThe writer, Charles Murray, in his essay introduces a new idea that is specific for reforms in the education sector....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Analysis of Levis Ad 2010

To support this particular evidence, the promoters used Rhetorical Appeals through the narrative discourse.... I found the argument and evidence equally persuasive; due to the presentation of Rhetorical Appeals in the textual discourse; as well as in providing visual illustrations of women where jeans of different styles were shown to fit different shapes and sizes....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

What is the Attraction of Dove Ad Legacy

The bigger legacy, of course, consists of positive vibes, happiness, being at home with one's body, loving oneself and accepting oneself, that Dove representsю The key argumentation, in terms of Aristotle's appeals, is the appeal to pathos, or the emotions.... The paper “What is the Attraction of Dove Ad Legacy?...
5 Pages (1250 words) Coursework

Rhetorical Appeals in Editorials

The paper «Rhetorical Appeals in Editorials” discusses the use of such artistic receptions for greater expressiveness as pathos (the emotional appeal to the reader, e.... hellip; Charlotte Allen uses Rhetorical Appeals to make his story as appealing as possible to the readership....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

My Audience - My Boss

nbsp; It applies Rhetorical Appeals of pathos, ethos, and logos brand to command the attention of the audience and educate them.... This article "My Audience - My Boss" describes the promotion of the concept of a new product within the modern-day society and the issues of internet negativity....
6 Pages (1500 words) Article
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us